Sampling mold and method of obtaining samples of molten metal

ABSTRACT

A mold for obtaining samples of molten metal includes a main center member having a central depression of uniform depth on opposed sides. A depression at each end of the central depression tapers to the end of the center member toward the other side. A side closure member closes each side of the center member. An end closure member abuts one end of the main and end members to close the tapered depressions at that end so as to form two cavities. Two samples are formed by flowing molten metal into the cavities through the tapered depressions at the open end. After the samples solidify they are removed by disassembling the four parts of the mold.

United States Patent 3,406,736 10/1968. .lett et a1. 73/421 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,417 9/1966 Austria 73/421MM 1,290,741 8/1966 Germany 73/42IMM Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher At!0rneyMartin J. Carroll ABSTRACT: A mold for obtaining samples of molten metal includes a main center member having a central depression of uniform depth on opposed sides. A depression at each end of the central depression tapers to the end of the center member toward the other side. A side closure member closes each side of the center member. An end closure member abuts one end of the main and end members to close the tapered depressions at that end so as to form two cavities. Two samples are formed by flowing molten metal into the cavities through the tapered depressions at the open end. After the samples solidify they are removed by disassembling the four parts ofthe mold.

PATENT-E0 Jun 8 l9?! INVENTOR JAMES L. TAYLOR BW. M

Attorney SAMPLING MOLD AND METHOD OF OBTAINING SAMPLES OF MOLTEN METAL This invention relates to a sampling mold and a method of obtaining samples of molten metal and particularly for obtaining twin samples of molten iron or steel. It is desired to provide such samples which have a chilled white iron surface structure suitable for vacuum spectrographic analysis. .lett et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,736 discloses a mold for this purpose. However, the .Iett mold is designed only for use in runners and is not practical for use in ladles, molds and the like. Also, only one sample is obtained at a time so that results of a test cannot be verified by testing a second sample. Another similar type of mold is described in a paper entitled A New Device for Sampling of Hot Metal at Inlands BOF Shop" presented by D. E. Grimes at the 1968 National Open Hearth and Basic Oxygen Steel Conference in Atlantic City, NJ. on Apr. 2, I968. This mold provides two samples simultaneously, but has a wing only at one end of the sample. This makes it more difficult to remove and handle the samples. Also, the samples are not always as clean as desired since the sample is formed at the end of the cavity.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a mold for simultaneously obtaining two samples of molten metal each having a wing at each end.

Another object is to provide such a mold which is easily assembled and disassembled.

Still another object is to provide such a mold which is adapted for use in several different environments.

A further object is to provide a method of simultaneously obtaining two samples of molten metal from a flowing stream of molten ferrous metal.

A still further object is to provide such a mold which simultaneously obtains two samples of molten metal from a bath of molten ferrous metal.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of the mold of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa sample obtained by use of the mold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing how a sample is obtained from molten iron flowing in a blast furnace runner;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing how a sample is obtained from molten iron or steel in a ladle or mixer; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing how a sample is obtained from molten steel in a converter.

Referring more particularly to FIG. I of the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates the mold of my invention. The mold 2 includes a center member 4, two identical side members 6, and a bottom member 8. The center member 4 is part of a right cylinder having two opposed symmetrical sides each having a flat smooth surface 12 with a round central depression 14 of uniform depth therein. Depressions 16 and 18 are provided at each end of the depression 14. The depressions 16 and 18 taper from depression 14 to the ends of member 4 toward its other side. Each side member 6 is also a part of a right cylinder and has a smooth chord surface 20 contacting surface 12. The bottom member 8 is a right cylinder having the same radius as the assembled members 4 and 6. The members 4, 6 and 8 are held together by asbestos tape 22. When so assembled a cavity 24 is formed between center member 4 and each side member 6. Each cavity 24 has a flat cylindrical center portion and tapered top and bottom portions connected thereto. Thus, a sample 26 is formed as shown in FIG. 2 having a flat cylindrical center portion 28 with two opposed tapered wings 30 attached thereto. The wings 30 assist in preparation of the sample by providing handles to hold the sample while it is being ground prior to burning on the spectrograph. By providing tapered slots at the top and bottom of the mold, it is unnecessary to orient the mold 2 prior to assembly thereof. A further advantage is that any slag or other impurities that enter the sampling device will flow into the bottom wings so that the impurities will be located in the bottom wings rather than in the central portion of the sample.

In carrying out my method, the mold members 4, 6 and 8 are assembled and held together with asbestos tape 22 and the open end of the depressions 16 preferably covered with cellophane tape to prevent the entry of slag or kish into the mold cavities 24. Once in the molten metal the cellophane will disintegrate and permit entry of the molten metal.

To obtain samples from a blast furnace runner 32 (FIG. 3) the mold 2 is inserted into cup 34 of a holder 36 with the open end of the mold extending above the top of the cup 34. The mold 2 is then inserted into the flowing stream of molten iron F with its open end facing upstream. After the cavities 24 of the mold are filled it is removed from the stream of iron F, coiled, and the parts of the mold removed from the samples which are then analyzed.

To obtain samples from a ladle 38 (FIG. 4) or the like containing molten metal M the mold 2 is inserted into cup 40 of a holder 42 with the open end of the mold extending above the top of the cup 40. The mold 2 is then lowered vertically into molten M below the surface and held there for about five seconds after which it is removed from the bath, cooled, and the samples removed and analyzed. If steel is being sampled, aluminum is put into the cavities prior to the sampling.

To obtain samples from a converter 44 (FIG. 5) the converter is tilted into the position shown. Aluminum is put into the cavities of the mold 2 which is then inserted into cup 34 of holder 36 as in FIG. 3. The mold 2 is dipped below the level of the molten steel S in the converter 44. After removal, the samples are removed from the mold and analyzed as above.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made.

lclaim:

l. A mold for obtaining samples of molten metal comprising a main center member having two opposed sides, each slide having a smooth surface portion, a central depression of uniform depth, and a depression at each end of said central depression tapering to the end of said central depression tapering to the end of said center member toward the other side; a pair of side closure members, one associated with each side of said center member and each having a smooth surface portion contacting the smooth surface of the associated side; an end closure member contacting one end of said center and side closure members to close the tapered depressions at one end of said mold whereby two cavities are formed for receiving molten metal through the unclosed end of said mold to form two samples each having a flat center portion with two opposed tapered wings attached thereto; and means for holding all the members in assembled relationship.

2. A mold according to claim 1 in which said central depressions are circular and the surface of the side closure member adjacent thereto is flat.

3. A mold according to claim 2 in which the assembled mold is a right cylinder.

4. A mold according to claim 3 in which said holding means is asbestos tape enclosing the outside of the mold.

5. A mold according to claim 4 in which said mold is made of copper.

6. The method of simultaneously obtaining two ferrous metal samples each having a flat central portion and two diametrically opposed tapered wings extending therefrom; which method comprises providing a four piece mold including a center member having a central depression of uniform depth in each of two opposed sides and a depression at each one of said central depression tapering to the end of said center section toward the other side, a side closure member for each of said sides, and an end closure member to close the tapered depressions at one end of said mold; flowing molten ferrous metal into the'cavities formed by said depressions to fill the same; solidifying said metal in said cavities; and disassembling the pieces of said mold.

7. The method of claim 6 in which aluminum is placed in said cavities, and molten steel is poured into the cavities with aluminum therein.

8. The method of claim 6 in which the assembled mold is placed in a flowing stream of the molten ferrous metal with the 

1. A mold for obtaining samples of molten metal comprising a main center member having two opposed sides, each slide having a smooth surface portion, a central depression of uniform depth, and a depression at each end of said central depression tapering to the end of said central depression tapering to the end of said center member toward the other side; a pair of side closure members, one associated with each side of said center member and each having a smooth surface portion contacting the smooth surface of the associated side; an end closure member contacting one end of said center and side closure members to close the tapered depressions at one end of said mold whereby two cavities are formed for receiving molten metal through the unclosed end of said mold to form two samples eAch having a flat center portion with two opposed tapered wings attached thereto; and means for holding all the members in assembled relationship.
 2. A mold according to claim 1 in which said central depressions are circular and the surface of the side closure member adjacent thereto is flat.
 3. A mold according to claim 2 in which the assembled mold is a right cylinder.
 4. A mold according to claim 3 in which said holding means is asbestos tape enclosing the outside of the mold.
 5. A mold according to claim 4 in which said mold is made of copper.
 6. The method of simultaneously obtaining two ferrous metal samples each having a flat central portion and two diametrically opposed tapered wings extending therefrom; which method comprises providing a four piece mold including a center member having a central depression of uniform depth in each of two opposed sides and a depression at each one of said central depression tapering to the end of said center section toward the other side, a side closure member for each of said sides, and an end closure member to close the tapered depressions at one end of said mold; flowing molten ferrous metal into the cavities formed by said depressions to fill the same; solidifying said metal in said cavities; and disassembling the pieces of said mold.
 7. The method of claim 6 in which aluminum is placed in said cavities, and molten steel is poured into the cavities with aluminum therein.
 8. The method of claim 6 in which the assembled mold is placed in a flowing stream of the molten ferrous metal with the open end thereof facing upstream.
 9. The method of claim 6 in which the assembled mold is positioned below the surface of a bath of molten ferrous metal with its open end facing upwardly.
 10. The method of claim 9 in which aluminum is placed in said cavities prior to being positioned in a bath of molten steel. 